As we come to the end of the year and reflect back on 2016, one of the highlights was the Summer Olympics in Rio.
I was mesmerized watching the Olympics. Having made 2 trips to Rio to
facilitate training for a global company with large operations in South
America, I was delighted to see the spotlight on Brazil’s beautiful beaches and
warm, friendly people. I love watching
the Parade of Nations during the Opening Ceremonies and was wowed by so many
spectacular performances, including Usain Bolt and the U.S. women’s basketball
team.
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| A photo I took in Rio a few years ago, after walking up more than 200 steps to the base of the 125-foot Cristo Redentor atop Corcovado mountain |
I noticed that every Olympic athlete, including all-time
greats Michael Phelps and Simone Biles, has a coach. And no one thinks that their having a coach
means they are weak or any less than high achievers.
But somehow, that “elite performers have coaches” mindset
hasn’t translated completely to business, where many people still view coaching
as remedial instead of a means to achieve the next level of performance
excellence. In fact, some of my
executive presentation skills coaching clients want to meet with me away from their
offices, so no one knows they are working with a coach.
Here are 7 reasons why you should follow the example of Olympic
athletes and work with a coach to optimize your presentation skills and
executive presence. Remember, while your
presentation may not be telecast to millions of viewers across the world or
come down to one one-hundredth of a second, it does make a difference to your
brand, success, career and impact.
1.
A coach can accelerate your
performance. Using a wealth of
experience gained from their own background and working with other clients, he
or she can show you how to move from good to great and take your presentation
from okay to outstanding.
2.
A coach takes the guesswork out of
success. You’ll learn exactly what to do
to deliver a successful presentation and connect with your audience, instead of
taking random steps and hoping your presentation works.
3.
A coach saves you wasted time
working on the wrong things. For
example, if you spend hours memorizing your presentation and then panic when
you can’t remember it in front of a live audience, a coach can suggest an alternate
way to prepare and practice that is more effective than rote memorization.
4.
A coach provides unbiased, specific feedback. Unlike your colleagues who may just say,
“good job” after a presentation, a coach knows what to look for and will tell
you specifically what you did well and what you have to improve.
5.
A coach provides custom
guidance. He or she focuses on your
individual needs and specific situation rather than a cookie cutter or a “one
size fits all” approach that wastes time on irrelevant elements.
6.
A coach provides practical and hands-on
tools and techniques. This means that
you know exactly what and how to practice, rather just being given theory that
you have to figure out on your own how to implement.
7.
A coach provides external motivation
when your energy and enthusiasm are flagging.
In fact, I have a client who says, “I work better on creating content
for my strategic presentation when you are in the room with me to help me focus
and stay on track.”
So when you want to take your
presentation or executive presence to the next level, don’t go it alone. Be like Simone Biles and every other
high-performing athlete and get a coach.
(And I’d welcome the opportunity to be your
coach - contact me to
find out how we can work together to help you achieve Olympic-worthy
presentations.)